Nigerian carrier Arik Air has formally taken delivery of its first Airbus A340-500 during an event at the airframer's Toulouse headquarters.

The Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered aircraft is the first of three being acquired by Lagos-based Arik, all of which were originally bound for India's Kingfisher Airlines.

Arik plans to use the aircraft, configured in two classes, for long-haul services to London, New York and Houston.

"Our new A340-500 is the first newly-built long-range aircraft delivered to a Nigerian airline in more than 20 years," says Arik chairman Sir Joseph Arumemi-Johnson.

Arik A340-500

 © Airbus/H Gousse

Arik's fleet includes Boeing 737 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft but the airline has a variety of types on order including Boeing 777-300ERs and 787s, and Bombardier Q400s.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news